Gaming machine utilizing distinctive paylines

ABSTRACT

A slot style gaming machine displays on a video screen distinctive pay lines such as pay lines having alphabetical or numerical configurations, or closed loop configurations such as geometric shapes. The shape of the pay line is preferably thematically associated with the symbols making up the pay line. A given pay line typically includes two or more symbols in a single one of a plurality of reels on the video screen. A pay line may also include symbols only on some of the reels. Two or more pay lines may be displayed simultaneously and may share a common symbol, intersect one another or cross one another. Bonuses may be awarded when two or more pay lines are displayed, sometimes with a requirement that the pay lines overlap or are on the same reels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The invention relates generally to gaming machines. More particularly, the invention relates to a gaming machine of the type generally known as a slot machine. Specifically, the invention relates to a slot-style gaming machine which utilizes distinctive paylines.

2. Background Information

Gaming machines come in a wide variety, including the category generally known as slot machines. Slot machines or slot-style gaming machines include physical reels which spin or electronically created reels which are displayable on a video screen and appear to spin. A typical slot machine includes three reels each having a plurality of symbols thereon which align with the symbols in the other reels when the reels are stopped to form rows or lines.

It is well known in the art that paylines are formed of like symbols and of one of said like symbols in each reel aligned across all of the reels. The most common paylines extend straight horizontally across the screen although some paylines may extend diagonally and are not necessarily in a single straight line. However, all paylines known to the Applicants begin in the first reel and end in the last reel and include only one symbol in each reel.

Especially in light of today's relatively advanced computerized games, there is a need in the art to provide slot-style gaming machines which have a greater attraction factor for the relatively younger generation as well as others who are more well-versed in the modern video games. The distinctive paylines and other aspects of the present invention address this issue.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a gaming machine comprising: a video display screen; a game playable via display on the screen; a wager mechanism for making a wager on the game; a game play starter control for selectively initiating play of the game; a plurality of reels displayable on the screen; a plurality of display locations on each reel; a plurality of rows each comprising one of the display locations in each reel; a plurality of symbols respectively displayable at the display locations; and a first pay line comprising a first one and a second one of the symbols displayed respectively at a first one and a second one of the display locations each on a first one of the reels.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic front elevational view of the gaming machine of the present invention.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are diagrammatic views of the reels on the display screen showing the symbols on the reels and a variety of S-shaped paylines.

FIG. 4 shows overlapping patterns of S-shaped paylines.

FIG. 5 shows a variety of closed geometric-shaped paylines.

FIGS. 6-21 show a variety of paylines having alphabetical or numerical shapes.

FIG. 22 shows a rectangular payline which circumscribes an oval-shaped payline.

Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The gaming machine of the present invention is indicated generally at 10 in FIG. 1. Gaming machine 10 is a slot machine or a slot-style machine comprising a frame 12 with a video display screen 14 mounted thereon for displaying various images, symbols and alpha-numeric characters. Machine 10 includes an internal computer or central processing unit (CPU) mounted within frame 12 for running a computer program allowing a game to be played. A coin head or slot 16 may be mounted on frame 12 for inputting coins which may be used for directly making a wager or for crediting an amount with which wagers may be made. Similarly, a bill slot or credit slot, each of which is indicated generally at 18, may be mounted on frame 12 for the same purpose. A coin tray 20 may be mounted on frame 12 to receive a payout of coins although other payout mechanisms may be utilized. For example, a payout may be tracked by the computer and displayed on screen 14 and may be paid out, for instance, at any location within a casino which houses machine 10.

A bet up/down button 22 or a similar mechanism is mounted on frame 12 to allow the player to increase or decrease the amount of bet or wager on the game. A play button 24 or the like serves as a game play starter control and may be pressed or otherwise operated by the player to play the game after a wager has been made. A pay table button 26 may be used to display the pay table on screen 14. A touch sensitive screen may be used to create such buttons on screen 14. In addition, other images or information may be displayed on screen 14 such as the game title, the amount of credit, the amount of bet, the amount paid, instructions for playing the game and so forth.

In accordance with the invention, a reel section 28 (FIG. 2) is displayable on screen 14 and includes six vertically oriented reels 30A-F each of which spin or have an appearance of spinning vertically during play. Each reel 30 includes nine display locations or blocks 32 which are alignable with respective blocks 32 in the other reels to create nine horizontal rows 34A-I, each having six horizontally aligned display blocks 32. Various symbols appear within the display locations or blocks 32. In the exemplary embodiment, four different symbols 36A-D are respectively at the display locations or blocks 32 and are in the form of stylized snakes. More particularly, symbol 36A is a cowboy style or western style snake wearing a cowboy hat, a neckerchief and a saddle; symbol 36B is a surfer snake or a snake with a surfboard; symbol 36C is a roller skating snake; and symbol 36D is a king cobra, king snake or a snake wearing a king's crown and holding a king's scepter.

In accordance with the invention, the computer program is configured to form S-shaped paylines 38A-H each of which indicates a win and triggers the award of a predetermined payment value. The S-shaped paylines 38 provide a thematic connection with the snake symbols 36 which are used to form the paylines. Not only do the S-shaped paylines resemble the shape of a snake but “S” is also the beginning letter of the word snake.

More particularly, as shown in FIG. 2, payline 38A includes six symbols 36A which are in adjacent or contiguous blocks 32; payline 38B includes six symbols 36B respectively in six blocks 32; payline 38C, a reversed S-shaped payline, includes six symbols 36C; and payline 38D includes eleven symbols 36D. Each of paylines 38 is formed by a line which connects like symbols 36 in adjacent blocks 32 wherein adjacent blocks may be disposed horizontally adjacent one another, vertically adjacent one another or diagonally adjacent one another. Payline 38A, for example, begins at the symbol 36A in reel 30B and row 34A and extends horizontally to the left to the symbol 36A in reel 30A and row 34A, then downwardly to the symbol in reel 30A and row 34B, then to the right to the symbol in reel 30B and row 34B, then down to the symbol in reel 30B and row 34C, and then left to end at the symbol in reel 30A and row 34C. Payline 38B is similar to payline 36C except that it is an S-shaped turned on its side. Payline 38C is also similar except that it is a reversed S-shaped payline. Payline 38D is a larger S-shaped payline which extends into three of the reels 30D-30F and begins at its upper end in row 34D and ends at its lower end in row 34H, thus spanning five of rows 34.

Paylines 38E-H in FIG. 3 show some other variations of the S-shaped paylines. Paylines 38F and 38G illustrate the drawing of the payline between symbols within blocks 32 which are diagonally adjacent or contiguous one another. For example, payline 38F starts at one of symbols 36C in reel 30E and row 34A and extends diagonally downwardly and to the left to the symbol 36C in reel 30D and row 34B and continues in a like manner so that payline 38F is formed only along blocks 32 which are diagonally adjacent one another.

In accordance with a feature of the invention, each of paylines 38 includes at least two like symbols in a single row 30. For instance, payline 38B in FIG. 2 includes two symbols 36B in reel 30D, two symbols 36B in reel 30E and two symbols 36B in reel 30F. Paylines 38A and 38C illustrate the occurrence of three like symbols within a single reel 30 while payline 38D illustrates four symbols within a single reel 30. Payline 38D further illustrates the occurrence of two or more like symbols in a single reel 30 wherein two of said symbols are separated from one another by a block 32 and symbol 36 therebetween which is not in payline 38D. For instance, payline 38D passes through symbol 36D in the block 32 in reel 30D and row 34F and also the symbol 36D in the block 32 in reel 30D and row 34H while skipping the symbol 36C in the block 32 at reel 30D and row 34G. Payline 38H in FIG. 3 further illustrates the inclusion of six like symbols in a single reel, which occurs in each of reels 30C and 30D in this case.

In accordance with the invention, any one of symbols 36A-D may appear in any one of display blocks 32 in a random manner. Thus, the order or symbols in a given reel from top to bottom is determined randomly for each play of the game and typically results in a change in that order for each play. In addition, the computer program is configured to alter the balance of a number of the different symbols 36A-D which may appear on reels 30 during any given play. In the exemplary embodiment, there are fifty-four display blocks 32 so that during a given play, for instance, fourteen symbols 36A, fourteen symbols 36B, thirteen symbols 36C and thirteen symbols 36D might appear on the display screen within the respective blocks 32 so that the number of each of symbols 36 is substantially the same. However, during another given play, the balance might be shifted so that, for instance, twenty-five symbols 36A, thirteen symbols 36B, ten symbols 36C and six symbols 36D may appear within the respective blocks 32. Depending on the specific computer program, each of the fifty-four blocks 32 might be filled with a single type of symbol 36 so that all the symbols on the screen are the same.

The computer program of chain 10 is programmed to produce the 54 blocks 32 on screen 14. In addition, the computer program includes a symbol code pool having a plurality of symbol codes each of which represent one of symbols 36. For each play of the game, the computer program randomly selects fifty-four of the symbol codes which cause a respective fifty-four of the symbols 36 to appear on screen 14. Thus, the symbol code pool has a given number of symbol codes which is greater than the number of blocks 32.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate several aspects of paylines 38 other than those discussed above. For instance, one or more paylines 38 may appear during a single play of the game. In addition, the paylines that appear may have the exact same configuration or may be different from one another either in orientation, size or shape. As shown by paylines 38E and 38H in FIG. 3, two paylines may share a common symbol or symbol display block 32.

As further illustrated in FIG. 4, two or more paylines may intersect, overlap or cross one another. In FIG. 4, all of the blocks 32 within reels 30A and 30B are filled with the same symbol 36A. Thus, there are seven S-shaped paylines 38A1-7 shown in reels 30A and 30B of FIG. 4, each of which intersects and crosses at least two of the other of paylines 38A1-7. Some of these paylines intersect three or four of the others. For example, payline 38A4 intersects and crosses each of paylines 38A2, 38A3, 38A5 and 38A6.

FIG. 4 also shows eight paylines 38B1-8 in reels 30D-30F. Each of these paylines overlaps at least one of the others and most of them overlap two of the others. To create these eight paylines 38B1-8, each of blocks 32 within reels 30D, 30E and 30F are filled by respective symbols 36B.

FIG. 4 further illustrates that the appearance of one or more paylines, in this case like paylines, within a common reel or reels constitutes a bonus activator which activates the award of a bonus or bonus value. The bonus activator may require that the two or more paylines share a common symbol or display block, or that they intersect or cross one another. In addition, while a bonus activator may comprise only two such paylines, the bonus activator may require three, four or more paylines within a common reel or reels. Further, the bonus activator may require that these paylines be of the same configuration and/or that they utilize like symbols. It is noted, however, that a bonus activator in which the two or more paylines are within a common reel or reels may utilize paylines which are not identical, such as the combination of paylines 38A and 38C in FIG. 2; the combination of paylines 38B and 38D in FIG. 2; the combination of paylines 38E and 38G in FIG. 3; the combination of paylines 38E and 38H in FIG. 3; or the combination of paylines 38F and 38H in FIG. 3. In addition, the bonus activator may be formed of paylines that do not use the same symbols 36 as is likewise illustrated by several of the afore mentioned combinations. In addition, a bonus activator may include two, three or more paylines which are displayed at the same time but do not share a common reel.

Referring to FIG. 5, the present invention also includes paylines comprising a closed loop, shown here as closed geometric shapes. FIG. 5 illustrates a variety of such paylines shown specifically as closed geometric shapes respectively having three sides, four sides, five sides and six sides. More particularly, FIG. 5 shows several four-sided paylines: a rectangular or square payline 40A, rectangular payline 40B, and a diamond-shaped payline 40C. FIG. 5 also shows two triangular paylines 40D and 40E which are connected to or overlap one another. A five-sided payline 40F and a six-sided payline 40G are also shown in FIG. 5 and also intersect one another. Paylines 40 thus represent any polygon or closed geometric shape, particularly those formed by straight lines. Paylines 40C, 40E, 40F and 40G also illustrate paylines which circumscribe one of symbols 36 which is not in the payline.

FIG. 6 shows several additional alphabetical paylines including A-shaped paylines 42A and 42B. Payline 42A further illustrates a payline having a closed geometrical shape in the form of a triangle with a pair of lines or legs extending outwardly therefrom. FIG. 6 further shows a B-shaped payline 44 and a C-shaped payline 46. D-shaped paylines 48A and 48B are shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 respectively. FIG. 7 also shows two different styles of E-shaped paylines 50A and 50B. Payline 50B likewise may represent a W-shaped or M-shaped payline. An F-shaped payline 52 is also shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 8 shows two G-shaped paylines 54A and 54B as well as two H-shaped paylines 56A and 56B. Payline 56B represents a payline having a plurality of intersecting lines including two lines or legs which in this case are vertical with symbols 36C2, 36A2 and 36B2 disposed therebetween and more particularly in reel 30D respectively on rows 34F, 34H and 34I. Paylines 56A and 56B may also represent an I-shaped payline on its side.

FIG. 9 shows an I-shaped payline 58, which may also be seen as an H-shaped payline on its side. FIG. 9 also shows three J-shaped paylines 60A-C, a K-shaped payline 62A and an L-shaped payline 64. FIG. 10 shows a second K-shaped payline 62B, an M-shaped payline 66, which may also be seen as a W-shaped payline, an E-shaped payline or a 3-shaped payline. FIG. 10 also shows an N-shaped payline 68 which may be seen as a Z-shaped payline. FIG. 10 further shows an O-shaped payline 70 which also represents the number zero, an oval shape or a substantially circular shape. FIG. 11 shows a P-shaped payline 72, two Q-shaped paylines 74A and 74B and an R-shaped payline 76. Payline 74A further illustrates a single payline comprising lines which intersect and cross one another, one of said lines being a closed geometrical shape which is generally O-shaped or rectangular and the other of said lines being a straight diagonally extending line.

FIG. 12 shows a pair of T-shaped paylines 78A and 78B, a pair of U-shaped paylines 80A and 80B and a V-shaped payline 82A which is turned sideways. FIG. 13 shows a second V-shaped payline 82B which is larger than payline 82A and is turned sideways in the other direction, a W-shaped payline 84, an X-shaped payline 86 and a Y-shaped payline 88A. FIG. 14 shows a second Y-shaped payline 88B and a Z-shaped payline 90 which is the final payline having an alphabetical shape. It is noted that while the alphabetically shaped paylines are shown as capital English letters, they may also be lowercase letters and likewise may also be alphabetical characters of other languages.

FIGS. 14-22 show various paylines having a numerical shape. In particular, FIG. 14 shows a pair of 1-shaped paylines 92A and 92B. FIG. 15 shows a 2-shaped payline 92 and three 3-shaped paylines 96A-C. FIG. 16 shows two more 3-shaped paylines 96D and 96E and a 4-shaped payline 98A. FIG. 17 shows two more 4-shaped paylines 98B and 98C which include a triangle shape unlike the open style of payline 98A. FIG. 17 further shows a 5-shaped payline 100 and a 6-shaped payline 102. FIG. 18 shows three 7-shaped paylines 104A-C. FIGS. 19-21 illustrate seven 8-shaped paylines 106A-G while FIGS. 20 and 21 show four 9-shaped paylines 108A-108D. FIGS. 21 and 22 further show 0-shaped paylines 110A and 110B which likewise represent oval shapes or substantially circular shapes. FIG. 22 also shows a rectangular payline 112 which is a closed geometrical shape which circumscribes the closed geometrically shaped payline 110B. Each of paylines 110B and 112 further represent paylines which entirely circumscribe one or more display blocks 32. Payline 112 further illustrates a payline which includes all of the symbols or symbol blocks within a given reel, in particular, reels 30A and 30F. Payline 112 also illustrates a single payline which incorporates all the symbols in more than one row, in particular rows 34A and 34I. As previously noted with regard to the alphabetical characters, the numerical characters used in the paylines may also be those used in other languages.

Thus, gaming machine 10 provides a slot-style machine having a plurality of reels comprising various symbols which may be joined by a payline which may be an alphabetical or numerical character, a closed geometrical shape and preferably includes two or more symbols within a single reel. The various characteristics of the paylines are not limited to those specifically described but also include other characteristics which are evident from the drawings.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described. 

1. A gaming machine comprising: a video display screen; a game playable via display on the screen; a wager mechanism for making a wager on the game; a game play starter control for selectively initiating play of the game; a plurality of reels displayable on the screen; a plurality of display locations on each reel; a plurality of rows each comprising one of the display locations in each reel; a plurality of symbols respectively displayable at the display locations; and a first pay line comprising a first one and a second one of the symbols displayed respectively at a first one and a second one of the display locations each on a first one of the reels.
 2. The gaming machine of claim 1 wherein the first pay line comprises a third one of the symbols.
 3. The gaming machine of claim 2 wherein the third symbol is on the first reel.
 4. The gaming machine of claim 2 wherein the first pay line comprises a fourth one of the symbols; and the third and fourth symbols are on the second reel.
 5. The gaming machine of claim 4 wherein the first pay line comprises a fifth one of the symbols on a third one of the reels.
 6. The gaming machine of claim 5 wherein the first pay line comprises a sixth one of the symbols on the third reel.
 7. The gaming machine of claim 2 wherein the third symbol is on a second one of the reels; and the first pay line comprises a fourth one of the symbols on a third one of the reels.
 8. The gaming machine of claim 1 wherein there are a first number of the reels; and the first pay line comprises symbols on a second number of the reels which is less than the first number.
 9. The gaming machine of claim 1 wherein the first pay line comprises two lines which cross one another.
 10. The gaming machine of claim 1 wherein the first pay line comprises an alphabetic or numeric configuration.
 11. The gaming machine of claim 1 wherein the first pay line comprises a closed loop.
 12. The gaming machine of claim 1 further comprising a second pay line displayable on the screen with the first pay line and comprising a third one and a fourth one of the symbols respectively at a third one and a fourth one of the display locations each on one of the reels.
 13. The gaming machine of claim 12 wherein the second pay line overlaps the first pay line.
 14. The gaming machine of claim 12 wherein the third and fourth symbols are on the first reel.
 15. The gaming machine of claim 14 further comprising a third pay line displayable on the screen with the first and second pay lines and comprising a fifth one and a sixth one of the symbols respectively at a fifth one and a sixth one of the display locations each on the first reel.
 16. The gaming machine of claim 12 further comprising a third pay line displayable on the screen with the first and second pay lines and comprising a fifth one and a sixth one of the symbols respectively at a fifth one and a sixth one of the display locations each on one of the reels.
 17. The gaming machine of claim 12 wherein at least one of the symbols of the first pay line is common to the second pay line.
 18. The gaming machine of claim 12 further comprising a bonus activator comprising display of the first and second pay lines; and a bonus value awarded in response to the display of the bonus activator.
 19. The gaming machine of claim 18 wherein the third and fourth symbols are on the first reel.
 20. The gaming machine of claim 1 further comprising a pool of computer program symbol codes which are randomly selectable and have a number greater than that of the symbol locations; and wherein the symbols are displayed at the symbol locations in response to the random selection of the symbol codes. 